If you live near El Camino Real, you are so screwed. All that traffic will overflow to the neighboring streets as motorists find streets to use avoiding ECR. Some on council just love to control every aspect of our lives.

"Despite majority support from residents and bike and transportation advocates who spoke, the current council voted 5-2 against dedicated lanes in Mountain View in January, citing concerns about increasing traffic on side streets."

Posted by Sesame
a resident of another community
on Nov 13, 2012 at 10:04 pm

I take the bus to work because it saves me money and I don't like polluting other people's air. I would like a faster and more efficient line like the one in the special lane. I think it would help everyone, and if more people use the bus then traffic on El Camino will get better instead of worse.

Posted by John the racist
a resident of Blossom Valley
on Nov 13, 2012 at 10:16 pm

I concur with the idea of adding bike lanes as well as a dedicated bus lane too because population will only grow. If we don't do this now it won't ever happen and we will still be stuck with miserable traffic.

Posted by Waldo
a resident of Waverly Park
on Nov 14, 2012 at 9:28 amWaldo is a registered user.

I agree with Joshua, put a subway system underneath El Camino Real, and leave the existing lanes for cars. As for a bike lane, for decades, I have commuted by bike on side streets parallel to El Camino Real, and it works just fine, with better scenery, safety, and a lower noise level.

Donald's comment, above, about 'allowing' Mtn View residents to 'ruin this plan for the whole country' is quite telling. It implies that the voting public is ignorant on important matters, and not to be trusted making appropriate choices. Instead, those choices need to be made for us, by those who know better what our real needs are. Exactly the attitude projected by Mtn View city governement.
As ignorant as the voting majority may be, I'll take my chances with them over those pretending to know, better than I, what my best interest is.

Posted by Major T
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Nov 15, 2012 at 4:04 pm

Steve, I think the point is that your self-interest may run counter to that of a much larger number of people. Every other city from San Jose to Palo Alto could approve this, but if Mt View blocks it then it wont happen.

Posted by Paula
a resident of another community
on Nov 15, 2012 at 7:56 pm

I do think it's a valid question to ask how this will affect all of the commuters who use El Camino to get to 85, in order to connect with other routes to get to work. I understand there are plenty of people who will benefit in terms of a faster route to work on the bus, if they are able to use the bus to get to work, and I applaud any effort to make El Camino more bike friendly. But you can't just close your eyes to the fact that there is a huge amount of commuter traffic on El Camino that is comprised of people who don't have that option because maybe they need to get to San Jose every morning, for example. It will indeed either create massive traffic snares on reduced El Camino lanes, or direct all that excess traffic onto side streets like California. I'm just stating a fact that needs to be addressed.

Being vocal does not mean a majority of residents. We've lived in MV for over 20 years and MV has done more than their share to support a diversity of residents, unlike some of our neighbors to the north and west. Closing a lane on El Camino would create nightmare traffic. Witness the current increased traffic on El Camino from motorists diverting from Central/Alma due to all the construction. If the earlier temporarily closed lane at El Camino and San Antonio from construction on that corner is an example of what traffic might be like, it was absolutely intolerable with savvy drivers routing through Los Altos neighborhoods to circumvent. Council needs to represent their constituents in MV, and vote NO.

Let's put the bus lanes on California street. Residents there will get their 'traffic calming' and bike lanes, VTA still gets to spend the money, and the majority of us will be free to go about our business unimpeded.

Posted by local resident
a resident of Sylvan Park
on Nov 17, 2012 at 7:58 am

Everybody who rides a bicycle knows that the S.F. peninsula is bicycle unfriendly,...where are all the bike racks?
There are even areas that favor cars and have no sidewalks!
The options for public transportation is severely limiting for those who do not work a standard M-F, 8-5 work schedule, and who has standard work hours anymore?
After spending time in Europe, I do know that buses are not the answer to public transportation.

Posted by Garrett
a resident of another community
on Nov 17, 2012 at 12:16 pm

A subway down the ECR might work in the long distance now take in account the time to study, plan, design, seek funding and then build. Could we zone, plan and build high density to support such a system. Buses are flexible, we could add when needed, run electric buses and even have special shuttles buses.

We have lived in the Monta Loma neighborhood for over 40 years.
In general, El Camino is a great way to travel by car.
But, just try to travel from Mountain View to San Jose on Hwy 101 at 6:00 P.M.It is gridlock. This leaves only El Camino Real and neighborhood streets.
Please do not destroy the only way back to San Jose by making Dedicated Bus Lanes on El Camino Real. Buses are good, but not necessarily practical in this spread out geographical area. El Camino is a vital link for our practical automobile transportation. Please do not apply this 'dedicated bus lanes idea'--a veritable 'perilous tourniquet'-- to a king's highway of transportation.
I love to ride a bike. There are many routes for bikes--not so--for bulky or slender fuel efficient cars. Leave El Camino alone!